James Edward Allen

James Edward Allen, 88, of Weirton died Thursday July 24, 2014, at the Weirton Medical Center. Born on October 23, 1925, in Dover, OH, Jim was the son of the late James A. and Edna Connell Allen. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Rose Marie Brown Allen on April 8, 2011; and his sister, Edna Allen Flint. Jim moved to Weirton in 1927 and graduated from Weir High School in 1943. In 1943, he entered the United States Navy Air Force Program, and served in World War II and the Korean War. He also served in the United States Navy Reserve for 25 years and as Commanding Officer of the Steubenville Reserve Division for seven of those years. Jim attended the University of Richmond, VA, Columbia University in New York and West Liberty State College. He graduated from Case Western Reserve with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He worked in Weirton Steel in 1943, prior to going to the Navy, and returned to Weirton Steel in 1950, where he worked until 1975. In 1975 Jim went to National Steel Headquarters in Pittsburgh, where he retired in 1979 from the Corporate Engineering Office as Assistant Chief Engineer. In 1979 he started working in the Far East. He worked in Korea until 1980, Taiwan from 1980 to mid 1981 and Indonesia from 1982 to mid 1983, when he returned back to Weirton for retirement. He is survived by his two sons, Jim Allen of Phoenix AZ, and Richard Allen of Weirton, WV; his two daughters, Mary Kay (Joe) Heiserman and Susan (Gary) Soplinski all of Weirton, WV; five grandchildren, Carly, Danika, James, and Christopher Allen and Joyce Allen Bradshaw; five great grandchildren, Drew, Hayden, Jacob, Aubrey and Reagan; several step grandchildren, step great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and his loving cat, Gracie Visitation will be Sunday 3-7 PM at the Greco Hertnick Funeral Home 3219 Main Street, where funeral services will be held 11 AM Monday. Dr. Ed Rudiger will preside. Entombment will follow at the Saint Paul Cemetery, Weirton, with military services conducted by the US Navy Honor Guard and the American Legion Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to the Hancock County Animal Shelter, 715 Gas Valley Rd, New Cumberland, WV 26047.